First Demonic Dragon

As a primordial god, Shiva is one of the few individuals who can pop down into the abyss at just about any time he wants, provided that Abaddon has not intentionally closed it off.

However, many of them do not know that they can do this, as Tehom's previous rulers maintained quite the strict closed door policy.

But even if they knew, most of them likely still wouldn't just pop by.

Unlike the previous rulers before him, Abaddon is fully synchronized with Tehom.

Meaning that as long as one is inside of his domain, he is effectively akin to the creator.

This place grants a monumental advantage for him, and a supreme disadvantage for anyone who comes in uninvited.

…But Shiva and the others were invited guests, so everything should be fine, right??

Shiva stepped through the portal he created high in the sky above Tehom.

To his surprise, he hadn't quite gotten close enough, and was surrounded by a cluster of floating planets.

There were atleast forty that he could see, and each of them contained wildlife already teeming with Abaddon's touch.

'Animals I have never witnessed made by the father of all creatures… Curious indeed.'

The first person to exit the portal behind Shiva was his own son, Ganesha.

Nano seconds after the elephant headed god arrived, he went down like a sack of cards and nearly plummeted through the air.

Had Shiva not caught him, he likely wouldn't have stopped until he hit the bottom.

"Son! What is the matter with you?!"

Ganesha could only make a gasping sound as he gestured to his throat.

Finally, Shiva recognized the reason why his son was having difficulties.

There is no 'air' here.

What the two of them were currently breathing in was a consortium of the purest aether and nether he had ever come across; bound together with demonic miasma.

That chilling feeling he first got upon arriving here wasn't because the place was cold, it was because this place was a death trap for any lesser god than himself.

Shiva encased his son in a protective dome designed to filter out any unkind elements.

He looked like an elephant in a hamster ball, but he was safe at the very least.

But not half a second later, their empty surroundings were suddenly filled with the region's inhabitants.

Dragons.

But these were unlike any kind that Shiva had ever seen before.

And they didn't look like they were thrilled to see him here.

As if their combined threat was not great enough, a few thousand had shown up here instantly.

Shiva's third eye almost opened on it's own from the stress.

"Stop."

A single voice reverberated as far as the eye could see.

The dragons that were only a second away from exhaling a tidal wave of flames suddenly came to a dead halt and looked around.

A set of flaming claws literally created a rip through space large enough for a huge creature to come slithering out.

It looked like a Komodo dragon, but it was as large as a polar bear and was growing even larger as the seconds ticked by.

Sitting across it's back was a very familiar man with black skin and golden tattoos.

Even looking like he'd just gotten out of bed, Abaddon was still the best looking entity that Shiva had ever witnessed in this universe or the next.

It was honestly almost unfair.

"Don't tell me… you forgot that we were coming." Shiva accused.

"…In all fairness, what kind of person just shows up without at least sending a text that they are on the way?

And arriving with your aura on full blast too no less.. even Nyx is more discreet when she comes."

Shiva folded all four of his arms and said nothing.

"…Alright, fine. This one's on me. You have my condolences."

Shiva merely shook his head in absurdity.

"You should be more careful, Abaddon. Were you even a moment later, I would have killed everyone here."

Abaddon almost cackled to himself, but didn't believe it was appropriate.

Luckily he was able to exercise restraint this time.

"Well, I thank you for your hesitation then, friend."

For some reason, Shiva got the feeling that Abaddon found some part of his words amusing just now.

But he had no idea what part of what he'd said was supposed to be funny to the dragon god.

Abaddon waived his hand and exactly fifteen crystal vials appeared above his head.

He passed them over to Shiva along with some very important instructions.

"Here. You should give these to everyone to drink so that they don't pass away from their first breath in my realm."

-

Abaddon hadn't exactly planned an itinerary for this visit.

The thing about Tehom is that you don't need to do much to fall in love with it.

Everything is invigorating and beautiful.

It's the kind of place that could prove detrimental for unguarded minds.

The experiences one can have here are so euphoric that they can leave one mentally unable to reside in any other space.

Though the atmosphere causes death to outsiders, for those who can survive just being here nourishes the body and soul.

A normal human would almost immediately see their skin cleared up and their body detoxified.

But instead of just letting the guests run around, he decided to conduct this more like a formal visit and business meeting.

Landing atop a stone walkway, the knights outside immediately raised their swords in unison; creating an arc for him to walk underneath.

They all said something in dragon tongue that none of the gods except Shiva could understand.

'Father… did you notice?' Ganesha asked.

'…I did.' Shiva responded.

Today he realized that all of the other gods were absolute fools.

Shiva had yet to pass even one of Abaddon's soldiers who couldn't best numerous deities by themselves.

Even Zeus could not escape from their jaws unscathed.

It would take everything that he had just to survive.

This war was already won, but no one else knew it yet.

Standing at the entrance to the castle was a handsome and clean-cut looking old man in a black suit with a white tie.

Abaddon smiled reassuringly at the old man and the two quickly clasped hands.

"Duke."

"Young Master. Entertaining guests in our loungewear today, are we?"

Abaddon finally remembered that because he had rushed straight here, he had neglected to change out of his usual sweatpants and unzipped hoodie.

"Ah…" he snapped his fingers and suddenly he was dressed in something much more respectable.

"Better?"

"The fit is indeed hard, Young Master."

"…Who taught you how to say that?"

"Princess Thea."

Abaddon hung his head so low that it practically fell off his shoulders.

If he hadn't sworn not to use his powers to meddle in the minds of his people, he would have already ripped that phrase from Duke's memory.

"Can you have Rosaline and the others prepare a small banquet in my grandmother's garden? It should be ready in an hour's time."

"Of course, Young Master. Will the Second Empress be joining you all as well?"

"…Prepare a big banquet." Abaddon realized.

"Right away, sir."

Duke bowed and allowed Abaddon and the others to pass him by and enter the castle.

While walking through the corridors, Abaddon put together an impromptu plan for the day and informed his guests of his decision.

"Usually I would just let you all run around to your heart's content and let you lose yourself in brothels, but I believe it's best if such fun waits until later.

Since you're curious about my vision for the future, I'd like to first go over the methods used here as well as their after effects and required steps to incentivize the populous."

Abaddon wasn't aware, but next to no one was actually listening to him.

The visitors were all too mesmerized by the castle that was somehow nicer than anything they had ever witnessed before.

It certainly wasn't more flashy than Indra's palace, but it hardly needed to be.

The detail and quality of the materials used was impressive, but it was the craftsmanship that was truly commendable.

On the ceiling, a great roaring dragon was etched into the stone; creating a tapestry more majestic and masterful than anything back in Svarga.

However, there was one god here who noticed something a little amiss.

"This isn't your home, is it?" Ganesha asked.

Abaddon glanced over his shoulder at Shiva's son and smirked.

"What makes you think that?"

"Your wife said you employ no maids in your manor, yet I've seen quite a few ever since we've walked in."

Abaddon chuckled to himself briefly before nodding in confirmation.

"Indeed, this is not my home. More like my office. I'm afraid I don't just bring anyone to the place where my children rest their heads.

I invite only my closest friends and I'm afraid I do not know any of you well enough to give you such a title."

Oddly enough, no one looked truly offended by this as they were much too enamored with the current space to worry about any other.

Abaddon showed a friendly smile that could disarm any disgruntled soul in an instant.

"Worry not. You will see a great many things today that will take your full focus away from my home. I guarantee it."

- Svarga.

Indrani left the palace in a bit of a hurry today.

No matter how hard she tried, she could not get the sight of Abaddon off her mind.

He was intoxicating beyond description.

Never before had she seen something that she wanted so desperately.

And remembering the snobbish behavior of those so called wives of his, she felt even more strongly that he was something that she had to take.

Right or wrong be damned.

Unaware of the dire consequences that would come with her decision, she started heading towards the giant tree in the center of her realm that would give her everything she wanted and more.